GREENCASTLE — With three weeks still remaining in the regular season, a lot is yet to be decided in the world of boys varsity basketball.

But, when referencing the battle for the Mid-Penn Colonial Division, no game is bigger than Friday night's showdown between Greencastle-Antrim and Gettysburg.

Currently, the Blue Devils (12-2, 6-1 MPC-Colonial) trail the division-leading Warriors (13-4, 8-0 MPC-Colonial) by a game and a half in the Colonial standings, with Gettysburg having already played eight league contests to G-A's seven.

Despite boasting a better overall winning percentage and a higher ranking in the recently updated District 3-AAA Power Ratings — G-A is No. 3, Gettysburg is No. 5 — the Blue Devils' pursuit of a third-straight Colonial crown relies heavily on Friday's outcome, with a G-A victory giving each team one loss in the division.

The Warriors were responsible for the only blemish on the Blue Devils' Colonial record thus far, defeating G-A 57-54 in overtime back on Dec. 17. This time around, the Blue Devils will enjoy the comforts of home, hosting the marquee contest scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m.

"It likely makes or breaks us in terms of winning the division," G-A head coach Gary Martin said of Friday's importance. "We still have some tough games left, but if we don't get this one, our chances of repeating as league champions dramatically decreases. They won the first meeting on their home floor so hopefully we can return to favor Friday night."

Since that loss, the Blue Devils have won nine straight, building plenty of momentum heading into the second half of the season. Still, Friday's shot at redemption looms large, with G-A hoping to flip the script in Round 2, beginning from the opening whistle.

"In the first game, we dug ourselves a hole and then had to dig ourselves out," Martin explained. "We did an excellent job fighting back to force overtime, but they hit some big shots and ended up winning the game. We need to start the way we've been starting lately and keep finishing strong. We've won nine straight games, so if we continue to play the way we have been, it's hard not to like our chances."

Both sides boast their fair share of impact players, with G-A's one-two punch of Joel Zola and Zach Faulkner sharing the spotlight with Gettysburg's leading trio of Cody Kiefer, Trey Thomas and Ben Kroll.

Zola enters averaging a healthy 19.1 points per game while coming off a 25-point performance in Monday's victory over Southern Fulton. Faulkner (12.8 PPG) has increasingly returned to form over the last three games after missing a pair of contests with a knee injury, reassuming his role as G-A's captain at the point guard position.

Both will be relied upon heavily come Friday night, with contributions from fellow starters Brandon Puffenbarger, Danny Stepler and Austin Scott being critical to the Blue Devils' success on both ends. Sixth-man Holden Baker also played a large role in the first meeting, netting 10 points back on Dec. 17, including some key buckets late in regulation.

For Gettysburg, Kiefer, Thomas and Kroll have shared the workload throughout the season, giving opponents plenty to account for. Thomas paced the Warriors in the first meeting, recording a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Kiefer was ultimately the difference however, burying a clutch 3 to force overtime before scoring six of his 15 points in the extra frame, propelling Gettysburg to victory.

"They have their version of the 'Big Three' with Kiefer, Thomas and Kroll," Martin said. "Thomas got us last time and Kiefer came up big for them down the stretch. We feel like we match up well with them and we're hoping to be the one creating the match-up problems, not the other way around."

Looking ahead, a divisional loss by either team in their respective, remaining schedules would certainly change the complexion of crowning a champion. Gettysburg's Colonial slate still includes games against James Buchanan, Boiling Springs and Big Spring with G-A still hosting Shippensburg and JB while traveling to Boiling Springs and Big Spring in the coming weeks.

Assuming neither slips, a Blue Devil victory on Friday would result in both teams finishing 11-1 in the division, thus forcing a third meeting at the end of the season to determine which school would represent the Colonial in the Mid-Penn Conference Tournament.

Regardless of scenarios, a Warriors' win Friday night firmly places Gettysburg in the driver's seat while leaving G-A in need of some help down the stretch.

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